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ColorOS 12 Closed Beta announced for OPPO Find X2 series in China

ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 went official in China last month. OPPO is also set to introduce the latest version of its mobile software in international markets next week. The first batch of eligible devices in the home country has already entered the public beta testing phase. The company has now announced close beta testing for the OPPO Find X2 series.

OPPO Find X2 Pro Bamboo Green
OPPO Find X2 Pro

According to an official announcement post (via ITHome) on OPPO Community China, the company has started recruiting ColorOS 12 Closed Beta testers for the OPPO Find X2 series in its home country. Users will the following models can enroll themselves in the program.

  • OPPO Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Edition
  • OPPO Find X2 Pro
  • OPPO Find X2 League of Legends S10 Limited Edition
  • OPPO Find X2

The registrations for the initiative went live at 11 AM (local time) today. They will be closed exactly 24 hours later, i.e. 11 AM (local time) tomorrow (October 6). Only 500 applicants will be selected.

The application review process is said to last for about 5 days. Selected users will be notified via SMS and will receive the Android 12-based ColorOS 12 Closed Beta build via OTA.

Next month, these phones will enter the public beta testing alongside the OPPO Reno6 series in China. At present, we are not sure when the international variants of these handsets will be treated with the latest version of ColorOS.

 

 

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Intel Arc Alchemist GPUs for desktops might launch in late 2022

The Intel Arc Alchemist GPUs for desktop PCs might not be arriving anytime soon. A new report has suggested that the new graphics card may not be launched until the second quarter of next year.

According to a YouTube channel called Moore’s Law is Dead, team blue is referring to its laptop GPUs when it talked about the Q1 launch for its Xe HPG (high performance gaming) products. In other words, the Alchemist desktop graphics cards might not arrive until the second quarter. Apparently, the Alchemist laptop GPUs will also launch along with the Alder Lake mobile chips, which hints at capable gaming laptops launching next year, closely followed by the launch of the desktop GPUs soon after.

Although, the delay in release might also be related to the supply chain and other production issues. The YouTuber also shared some new images in the latest video, which showcased a mock up of what these new GPUs might look like. Keep in mind that these are still just renders and not the official model of the GPU itself from Intel. Although, these renders are based on new info from several sources, as per Moore’s Law is Dead.

Intel

Furthermore, the renders are based on early engineering sample shots that the leaker had already received in the past. Although, Moore’s Law is Dead did add that most current reference test boards look similar to this early on. So, we have no idea what the final model might look like for the commercial build.

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Apple’s A15 chip found to be faster than company’s own claims

The A15 chip from Apple was found to be 62% faster than the competition as per an independent test that measured parameters like performance, efficiency, and graphics core improvements. This is a 12% gain over Apple’s own claim of the A15 being 50% faster.

The review, performed by AnandTech (via: MacRumors), revealed that while Apple’s larger cores are more power-hungry, they’re still a lot more energy-efficient. Energy efficiency was found to be improved by 17% on the peak performance states versus the A14.

apple-a15-chip
Image: AnandTech

AnandTech also noted that the system cache on the A15 has been boosted to 32MB, which is double when compared to the A14. This “dwarfs the competition” and is a “key factor in the power efficiency of the chip, being able to keep memory accesses on the same silicon rather than going out to slower, and more power inefficient DRAM,” the report said.

The L2 cache has gotten similar upgrades as well and now sports a memory of 12MB – a sizeable increase over last year’s 8MB. AnandTech has described this as “humungous” as its size is now the same as Apple’s M1 chips that are used in laptops. The 12MB figure also means that it’s twice as large as the L2 cache memory found on the Snapdragon 888.

These cache enhancements allow the A15 to squeeze out impressive gains from a performance core microarchitecture that isn’t all that different from last year’s A14. This is joined by an additional integer ALU and a faster memory subsystem in the efficiency cores that further add to the gains.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Board Teardown

The GPU bundled with the A15 has also noted significant boosts in performance that are once again well above Apple’s claims. The only gripe about it is its bad thermal management that leads to throttling on at least the iPhone 13 Pro.

Despite this, the iPhone 13 models were still found to be “vastly faster and give out a better gaming experience than competitive phones.”

In conclusion, the substantial performance and efficiency improvements of the Apple A15 chip are the key to the vastly improved battery life seen on the iPhone 13 series.

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Cyrcle Phone 2.0 packing a round screen design, two USB ports launched on Kickstarter

The Cyrcle Phone 2.0 is one of the very few smartphones with an unusual shape. The smartphone comes with a circular display with an elliptical body. It joins a very small list of smartphones that have taken such odd-shaped designs as the Runcible and the Cyrcle Phone 2G (which is the predecessor of the Cyrcle Phone 2.0).Cyrcle Phone 2.0

The Cyrcle Phone 2.0 has a length of 5.11 inches, a width of 4.06 inches, and a thickness of 0.87 inches. The display is just 3.45 inches in diameter, which seems odd as well. The smartphone is wider than most models in the market and it could be uncomfortable to use. The Cyrcle Phone 2.0 will run on Android 10, and how the circular display fits with the conventional rectangular display of Android still needs some fine-tuning.Cyrcle Phone 2.0

The Cyrcle Phone 2.0 is priced at $700, offers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It remains to be seen how the unusual design of the smartphone will drive its demand, seeing that it does not come with some eye-catching specs. The smartphone also has two USB ports and two headphone jacks, which is indeed unusual for most current models. The must be some justification behind this design choice but we are yet to know them at this time.Cyrcle Phone 2.0

The original Cyrcle phone was a round clamshell with a square display which was masked so that only a circular portion was visible. The phone’s enclosure is 3D printed and it is possible to also download the CAD files for the Cyrcle Phone 2.0 and 3D print the enclosure to a feel of the covering before giving it a go.

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Nvidia to launch RTX 3090 Super alongside other new RTX GPUs in Jan 2022: Tipster

In the past couple of weeks, various reports have surfaced that suggest that Nvidia is working on new GPUs including a new RTX 3090 Super graphics card along with new RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 2060.

According to hongzing2020 (Via PCGamesn), the American graphics card maker is preparing to launch new RTX GPUs in January 2022. These GPUs would also include the new RTX 3090 Super flagship refresh, the 12GB variant of the RTX 2060. The tipster further added that these GPUs will also arrive alongside a new RTX 3070 Ti, which would feature a whopping 16GB of VRAM. In other words, this variant of the 3070 would have even more VRAM than the higher end RTX 3080.

Notably, the leak also skips over other recent reports that suggest that the company is working on a new RTX 3080 Super, RTX 3070 Super, and RTX 3060 Super. Meaning, the new cards are no longer a part of Nvidia’s future lineup. Although, the company could have more graphics card variants planned to release later, since offering a wide range of cards right now might be difficult considering the ongoing semiconductor shortage that has affected supply chains across the globe.

Nvidia
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Going by the trend of rising memory in these cards, Nvidia GPUs might soon arrive with a minimum of 8GB of VRAM. But keep in mind that this is still just a leak and not an official confirmation from the company. So, we will have to wait for an official announcement from team green to know for sure.

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Xiaomi exec. believes Android 12-based MIUI still needs a lot of work

Android 12 was officially uploaded to AOSP without being released for eligible Google Pixel devices, in an odd move yesterday. This defied Google’s tradition of uploading the source code after stable builds go live for their Pixels. Because of this, Xiaomi has almost beaten Google at their own game and has already released ‘stable’ Android 12 builds for the global variants of the Mi 11i and Mi 11, albeit for select pilot testers.

The company also announced (via: IT Home) that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi K40 Pro, and Redmi K40 Pro+ will be getting Android 12 as part of the first batch, and that the internal testing for the same has commenced.

However, Wang Hua, General Manager of Xiaomi Public Relations posted on Weibo today reminding users that Android 12 has only been freshly adapted and will hence be plagued by bugs. Both Google and Xiaomi “still have a lot to do” and it’s advisable for testers to back up their data prior to performing the upgrade process.

xiaomi-android-12-gm-statement

This is in conjunction with the official Android 12 update release notes from the Xiaomi Mi 11i and Mi 11 that warn users about overheating and other performance issues. The notes also emphasize that “it might take some time for your device to adapt to the new version.”

Lastly, some third-party apps may not be compatible with Android 12 just yet.

If you are a Global Xiaomi Mi 11i or Mi 11 owner and think you have what it takes, then feel free to download the builds via the links given below.

Do note that since the builds are aimed at those that are part of the pilot testing program, they may not be installable directly through the Updater.

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Google Pixel Fold 3D renders emerge, launch expected late 2021

The Pixel 6 series and Android 12 stable rollouts may almost be upon us but Google is not done with the good stuff for this year. Sources state that the Google Pixel Fold will be launched before the end of 2021, as Google’s very first foldable smartphone.

The device is expected to have the now-standard inward folding flexible screen. Based on this, Google’s patents, and the design language employed by the Pixel 6 series, LetsGoDigital in collaboration with designer Waqar Khan has provided some really good-looking renders of the purported foldable model.

The renders show a design that is not unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. The selfie camera is housed within a punch hole in the outside display on the top left corner. LetsGoDigital believes that the front display will have reasonably thick bezels, and has as such, reflected so on their renders as well.

Once unfolded, you get yet another selfie camera within the larger display inside. The device is equipped with a similar hide-away hinge Samsung uses on their Fold series.

Do keep in mind that the renders are only an artist’s imagination and may hence not reflect the actual look of the Google Pixel Fold.

google-foldable-smartphone-patent

Earlier, Google was granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a multi-axis soft hinge mechanism and a foldable device having the same. The 58-page documentation described an advanced hinge mechanism, designed in such a way that only a small crease is created when the device is folded.

The patent described a device with an inward folding display, not unlike the one shown in the Google Pixel Fold renders above, which can be unfolded into a device with a tablet-sized display. From this, it is safe to assume that Google will be using a similar design for their Pixel Fold.

Last but not the least, the foldable phone that has been codenamed “Passport” can be released as early as this year itself. Sources have given an “end of 2021” date.

The device was first tipped by a blogger back in 2019 and a more recent leak suggests that it will be using an LTPO OLED display. It may also come with an under-screen camera, although we wouldn’t want to get our hopes too high.

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Windows 11 still suffers from File Explorer memory leak bug

While memory leaks isn’t exactly a new issue on the Windows platform, it seems that the memory leak issue with the File Explorer has shipped with live build of Windows 11 that launched earlier today (5th October 2021).

Windows 11

For those unaware, memory leaks is basically an issue that occurs when the PC fails to release the cached memory space that it has been assigned. In other words, it doesn’t free up RAM even after the program that was initially using it has been closed. This, in turn, leads to RAM being horded up, which can cause your computer to slow down or even become unresponsive in extreme cases. Now, the file explorer memory leak that has surfaced a couple of months prior on Windows 11 Insider Preview has managed to make its way to the live build.

To replicate the issue, one can simply go to Task Manager and sort the processes by highest memory usage then spam ‘Win+E.’ After this, file explorer will rise up this list quickly. As of right now, the company has yet to officially acknowledge this issue, so its unknown if a fix is on its way. Restarting Windows File Explorer process manually will free up the cache from within the Task Manager (Via PCGamer).

Windows 11

Users with systems that do not have a lot of RAM or those that do not restart their PCs often could face major issues if this memory leak issue isn’t resolved quickly. So stay tuned for more, as we will provide more updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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Super Deal: Get Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds for ₹9990 at Amazon India (Retail Price ₹20000)

Amazon India under the Great Indian Festival is giving an amazing deal on the Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds. The earbuds which generally retails for ₹20000 is now available at a massively discounted price of ₹9990 only at Amazon India. This deal ends in 8 hours.

WHERE TO BUY
Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds at ₹9990 @Amazon India

Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds

Key Features:

  • Industry-leading Digital Noise Cancellation technology – virtually soundproof experience
  • Proprietary technology for premium sound
  • Extended battery life – 6 hours on a single charge and 24 hours with the case
  • Quick charge – get 90 minutes of playtime with just 10 minutes of charge
  • Built-in Alexa – for voice free access and control
  • Smart touch controls
  • Quick attention mode, Ambient Sound mode
  • Wearing detection 
  • Smart listening
  • Intelligent auto-power off through IR sensor which detects earbuds’ status
  • Location detector
  • Colors: Silver and Black

Sony WF-1000XM3 EarbudsGenerally retailing for ₹20000 you can now buy Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds at a heavily discounted price of ₹9990 only at Amazon India. Please note that this super deal ends in 8 hours and comes with additional bank discounts and offers. So place your order asap. 

Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra gets access to MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition in Europe

Xiaomi has been rolling out MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition update for eligible devices for a while now. The latest version of MIUI was announced in August and the flagship Mi 11 Ultra got access to the update in China that month itself. However, the European variant of the smartphone has begun to receive the new version of MIUI only now.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

According to AdimorahBlog, Xiaomi has started seeding MIU 12.5 Enhanced Edition update for the EEA variant of Mi 11 Ultra. The latest system update arrives with build number V12.5.10.0.RKAEUXM and September 2021 security patches.

The EEA variant of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is only the third regional model of the handset to receive MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition. The other two are ‘China’ and ‘Indonesia’. The former got the update in August, while the latter received it in September.

This means only ‘Global’ and ‘India’ variants of the phone are left to get the new version of MIUI. These two models should also get access to the update soon.

As far as the EEA variant is concerned, Xiaomi has just started seeding the build. Hence, it will take some time to reach every unit due to batched rollout.

At the same time, Xiaomi is also testing Android 12 on Mi 11 Ultra globally along with other smartphones. Interested users can join the program to experience the latest version of Android.

 

 

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Android 12 released: Here are all the devices confirmed to get the update

Yesterday, Android 12 finally hit the stable milestone, which should mean it’s good to go. Or is it? Unfortunately, for Google Pixel owners, the OS version is still not available and will continue to stay that way at least for several more days. Android Developer blog has given an ETA of “within the next few weeks” for Pixel devices along with a “later this year” date for Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi devices.

Of course, those that are part of the beta programs offered by participating OEMs can still try out the Android 12 update before it rolls out widely, but bugs are to be expected.

Android 12 New UI

Regardless, this is still a really odd way for Google to announce a new Android version. New Android upgrades typically roll out to Pixels as soon as it hits AOSP. Thus, leaving aside developers, there is little for regular users to get excited about with this year’s announcement.

The delay in the Android 12 release can be attributed to the fact that it is one of the most significant upgrades in years, adding a fresh breath of life to the OS. This has been made possible through Material You – a brand new design language that favors large rounded elements for improved intuitivity and aesthetics. It is joined by a dynamic theme system that absorbs colors from the current wallpaper and splashes them across supported apps.

Also new is the inclusion of sophisticated animations across the system, as well as Google apps. This is joined by the implementation of new widgets that look better and are more interactive than ever before. They have the ability to make even the blandest of home screens look like a piece of art in seconds.

Android 12 location data

Not everything is a UI refresh with Android 12 though. There are also multiple enhancements to privacy, with the status bar, gaining new indicators for when the microphone and camera are being accessed.

The Android 12 update has also been claimed to bring along significant performance boosts, with a reduction in CPU time used by core system services by 22% and a decrease in the usage of big cores by 15%. This is paired with an increase in app launch speeds.

Can’t wait to get your hands on the update? We have listed the devices that have been confirmed to get Android 12 below.

Android 12 Eligible Devices

Google

  • Pixel 3
  • Pixel 3 XL
  • Pixel 3a
  • Pixel 3a XL
  • Pixel 4
  • Pixel 4 XL
  • Pixel 4a
  • Pixel 4a 5G
  • Pixel 5

Xiaomi

The following devices are undergoing internal beta testing and the list will be expanded.

  • Xiaomi MIX 4
  • Xiaomi 11T Pro
  • Xiaomi Pad 5 / Pad 5 Pro / Pad 5 Pro 5G
  • Mi 11 Lite 4G / 5G
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
  • Mi 10 / 10 Pro / 10 Ultra / 10 Lite 5G
  • Mi 10T / 10T Pro / Redmi K30S Ultra
  • Mi 10i / 10T Lite / Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G
  • Redmi K30 Pro / Zoom / Poco F2 Pro
  • Redmi K30 5G / 5G Racing / K30i 5G
  • Redmi Note 10
  • Redmi Note 10 Pro / Pro Max /
  • Redmi 10 5G
  • Redmi 10T
  • Redmi Note 8 (2021)
  • POCO X3 Pro
  • POCO F3 GT / Redmi K40 Gaming
  • POCO M3 Pro 5G

OnePlus

  • OnePlus 9
  • OnePlus 9 Pro
  • OnePlus 9R
  • OnePlus 8
  • OnePlus 8 Pro
  • OnePlus 8T
  • OnePlus 7
  • OnePlus 7 Pro
  • OnePlus 7T
  • OnePlus 7T Pro
  • OnePlus Nord 2
  • OnePlus Nord
  • OnePlus Nord CE

Oppo

  • Oppo Find X3 Pro
  • Oppo Find X3 Pro Mors Exploration Edition
  • Oppo Find X3 OnePlus 9 Pro 5G
  • Oppo Find X2 Pro
  • Oppo Find X2 Pro Lamborghini Edition
  • Oppo Find X2 Find X2 League of Legends S10 Limited Edition
  • Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G
  • Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G Detective Conon
  • Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G
  • Oppo Reno6 5G Limited Edition
  • Oppo Ace2
  • Oppo Ace2 EVA Limited Edition
  • Oppo RenoS Pro+ 5G
  • Oppo RenoS Pro+ Artist Limited Edition 5G
  • Oppo RenoS Pro 5G
  • Oppo RenoS 5G
  • Oppo Reno5
  • Oppo K 5G
  • Oppo K9 5G
  • Oppo A95 5G
  • Oppo A93 5G
  • Oppo Reno Ace
  • Oppo Reno Ace Gundam Edition
  • Oppo Reno 10x zoom version
  • Oppo Reno Barcelona Custom Edition
  • Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G
  • Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G 2020 Summer Custom
  • Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G Artist Limited Edition
  • Oppo Reno4 5G Edition
  • Oppo Reno4 SE 5G
  • Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G
  • Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G Classic Blue Custom
  • Oppo Reno3 5G Edition
  • Oppo Reno3 vitality version
  • Oppo K9 Pro 5G
  • Oppo K7
  • Oppo K7x
  • Oppo A93s 5G
  • Oppo A92s 5G
  • Oppo A72 5G
  • Oppo A55 5G
  • Oppo A53 5G

Tecno

  • Tecno Camon 17

 

Samsung

Samsung hasn’t confirmed which phones will get the Android 12 update. But SamMobile has curated an expected list, which you can check here.

Note that the list below isn’t final and more devices may be added or removed in the coming weeks.  

Galaxy S series

  • Galaxy S21 series
  • Galaxy S20 series
  • Galaxy S20 FE (LTE/5G)
  • Galaxy S10 series

Galaxy Note series

  • Galaxy Note 20 series
  • Galaxy Note 10 series

Galaxy Z series

  • Galaxy Fold
  • Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G
  • Galaxy Z Fold 3
  • Galaxy Z Flip series
  • Galaxy Z Flip 3

Galaxy A series

  • Galaxy A71/5G
  • Galaxy A51/5G
  • Galaxy A52/5G
  • Galaxy A52s
  • Galaxy A72
  • Galaxy A90 5G
  • Galaxy A01
  • Galaxy A11
  • Galaxy A22 5G

Galaxy M series

  • Galaxy M42 5G
  • Galaxy M21
  • Galaxy M32
  • Galaxy M51

Galaxy F series

  • Galaxy F41
  • Galaxy F62
  • Galaxy F22

Galaxy Tab series

  • Galaxy Tab S7 series
  • Galaxy Tab S6 series
  • Galaxy Tab A 8.4
  • Galaxy Tab A7 series
  • Galaxy Tab Active 3

 

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Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max becomes the display leader on DxOMark

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has just become the display leader on DxOMark rankings. The company’s high end flagship has beaten the previous leader, Huawei P50 Pro, with a score of 99 points.

Apple

According to the DxOMark test, the overall score of 99 points is the highest ever given to a smartphone, making it the leader of the display rankings. The firm praised the smartphone for its smoothness and accuracy when browsing, excellent color reproduction, and “outstanding” HDR10 rendering to add to the very “enjoyable multimedia experience in all conditions.” For those unaware, the top end model features a 6.7 inch OLED display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9.

DxOMark called the device’s display “Simply Stunning” and added that it had excellent readability in nearly all conditions. This is also reflected with the color fidelity and viewing angles as well. The smartphone is reactive and smooth when browsing, while also offering excellent control of artifacts. However, DxOMark noticed that the display was not bright enough at its default settings for comfortable night reading. Furthermore, it had a strong orange cast when the blue light filter is on.

Apple

Another slight let down was the gaming experience, which they believed could be made even smoother. Regardless, the iPhone 13 Pro Max from the Cupertino based giant has beaten the likes of the Huawei P50 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to become the new leader. DxOMark also noted that Apple has demonstrated major improvements over its predecessor.

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realme GT 5G Android 12 Early Access program goes live in China

Chinese tech brand realme has confirmed to unveil realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 on October 13. Ahead of that, the company has kicked off the ‘Android 12 Eary Access’ program for realme GT 5G in its home country

realme GT 5G Android 12 Early Access

The realme GT 5G is the brand’s first and the only Snapdragon 888-powered smartphone released to date. Hence, it positions this device as its flagship phone. Hence, it is the first model to receive Android 12.

According to an official announcement post on realme Community China, only 700 users will be able to experience Android 12 on the realme GT 5G in China initially. The registrations for the initiative have been opened and they will be closed when the required number of users get selected. 

The company says that user data will not be erased when upgrading from realme UI 2.0 to Android 12 Early Access. However, it still recommends users to back up the date and store it somewhere else to restore it if required.

The only requirement to join the program is that the phone should not be rooted. Whereas, the selection criteria will be based on a questionnaire.

Interestingly, realme does not call this software realme UI 3.0. But we believe it should be an early release of 3rd-gen realme UI with some missing features.

Having said that, we expect realme to shed more details on its latest software next week.

 

 

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Qualcomm acquires automotive tech company Veoneer for $4.5 billion

Qualcomm, along with an investment firm SSW Partners, has agreed to purchase Veoneer, a Swedish automotive tech company in an all-cash deal worth around $4.5 billion as the company is paying $37 per share.

For this deal, the chipset maker has managed to outbid Magna International. In July this year, Veoneer had agreed to sell itself to Magna in a bid worth $31.25 per share, but Qualcomm submitted its bid for $800 million, or 18% more.

Qualcomm Featured

Magna, having a market capitalization of $25.3 billion compared to Qualcomm’s $164.8 billion, did not even submit a counterbid. Veoneer will pay Magna a “breakup fee” of $110 million. The deal is expected to close next year.

SSW Partners said that it would sell Veoneer’s Arriver tech, which is an advanced driver assistance system stack that includes sensors and software, to Qualcomm and retain the Swedish company’s other Tier 1 supplier businesses.

This isn’t the first major acquisition for Qualcomm this year. In January, Qualcomm agreed to acquire high-performance computing startup Nuvia for $1.4 billion to establish itself in the markets beyond telecoms.

Qualcomm, which is known for making chipsets for smartphones, is seeking new avenues for profit beyond phone-related chips. With the advancement in automotive technology and rise in demand, this seems like a primary target for the company.

It already supplies chips that power in-car communications and infotainment systems and is now aiming to extend its reach in driver-assistance technology. Last year, Qualcomm had partnered with Veoneer to form Arriver and began developing driving technology targeted to hit the road in 2024.

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Realme GT Neo2 memory variants and color options for India leaked ahead of launch

Realme GT Neo2 smartphone, which went official last month in China, is now set to launch in the Indian market later this month. The phone will be made official in India later this month and the landing page for the same is now live.

Apart from teasing the smartphone, there’s nothing known about the Realme GT Neo2 for the Indian market. Even the official launch date remains unknown. Ahead of the launch, some details about the smartphone have leaked online.

In India, the Realme GT Neo2 will come in two memory variants — 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage and 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage. This means that the 8GB RAM with256GB internal storage model, which is available in China, won’t be coming to India.

realme-gt-neo2-blackmint

Further, it has been revealed that the smartphone will come in three color options in India, including Neo Black, Neo Green, and Neo Blue. While the pricing details remain unknown, we expect the phone to cost around ₹30,000 (~$403).

The Chinese version of the Realme GT Neo2 comes with a 6.62-inch Full HD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a peak brightness of 1300 nits. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset.

There’s a dynamic memory expansion feature, allowing virtual expansion of the RAM by up to 7GB. The phone also comes with a diamond ice core cooling system that covers 17932mm² in terms of surface area with aerospace-grade cooling gel. It also uses tempered VC and three-dimensional graphene layers for better heat dissipation.

As for the camera department, there’s a triple-camera setup on the back, featuring a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. On the front, there’s a 16-megapixel selfie shooter for video calling.

The device has dual stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos Games support as well. It runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with Realme UI 2.0 on top and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging technology.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro leak reveals curved display, video quality, & camera samples

A new report has revealed certain interesting information regarding the Google Pixel 6 Pro. The leak shared the video quality and camera samples of the flagship smartphone, which will apparently also sport a slightly curved display.

Google

The leak arrives from This is Tech Today on YouTube. The channel revealed camera samples taken from a Pixel 6 Pro. Keep in mind, that these images were taken with a pre production software and are not high resolution copies, so the captures are not as good as the ones that will be taken by retail Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro units. Furthermore, the YouTuber also revealed the Pixel 6 Pro’s zoom capabilities along with the device’s low light photographic capabilities.

Google

 

The channel also focused on the Pixel 6 Pro’s ability to create depth of field effects. Although, he did face image flickering in a sample video and poor image stabilization. But again, its still too early to judge the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s video quality as of right now, and we will have to wait for the official release unit from the search engine giant.

One of the highlighting detail leaked in the YouTube video was the display of the Pixel 6 Pro. The smartphone can be seen sporting a slightly curved display on the front. This curved display is similar to the one found in Vivo X70 Pro+, which uses a Samsung E5 AMOLED panel. In other words, the display is slightly curved but not as aggressively as Huawei flagship smartphones.

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Ulefone Armor 12 5G remains effective in resisting 99.9% bacteria[Video]

Ulefone Armor 12 5G has already undergone certain tests to prove its durability and usability. After performing exceptionally in the benchmark test, sound test, and camera test, the Ulefone Armor 12 5G shows the effectivity of its silver ion layer which enables it to resist bacteria. In the video below you can see how the smartphone is leaving all the bacteria behind to keep the user safe.

Must See: Ulefone Armor 12 5G excels with dual HiFi speaker and headset-free FM Radio

Ulefone Armor 12 5G is bundled with a silver-ion coating on the rear side for antibacterial purposes. It offers up to 99.9% resistance from bacteria and can remain effective for a long time. The smartphone feature seems quite useful in the world when pandemic has wreaked havoc in the lives of many.

Ulefone 12 5G Specs

Ulefone Armor is a powerful rugged smartphone as it comes with a Dimensity 700 SoC, 8GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage. The smartphone is capable enough to offer flawless multi-tasking. The 5G device can offer you hyperfast uplink and downlink speeds. It features a 6.52-inch large waterdrop display for an outstanding viewing experience.

There is a quad-camera module present on the smartphone featuring a 48Mp primary sensor, an 8MP wide-angle lens, a 2MO macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor.  The features like Fingerprint ID, NFC and Face Unlock enhances the usability of the overall smartphone. It runs on Android 11 OS with all its features.

For more information about the Ulefone Armor 12 5G smartphone, head over to the official website.

Related: Ulefone Armor 12 5G excels with dual HiFi speaker and headset-free FM Radio

OPPO promises up to 3 Android updates and 4 years of security updates

OPPO unveiled ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 in China last month. A few hours earlier, the company confirmed that there will be a global launch event for the latest version of its software on October 11. At the same, the company also disclosed its new software update policy.

ColorOS 12 Featured A
ColorOS 12 Home Screen

Last year, Samsung announced a new software update policy for its smartphones and tablets. The company became the first non-Google brand to offer three generations of Android updates and at least four years of security updates.

A few months back, OnePlus also joined this bandwagon, followed by Xiaomi. Now, OPPO also promises similar software support for its handsets.

The Chinese tech giant says that going forward it will offer three Android updates for the OPPO Find X series, two Android updates for the OPPO Reno as well as OPPO F series, and a single Android update for select OPPO A series models. 

The Find, Reno, and F series will also receive four years of security updates, while the A series will be limited to three years. Most importantly, the new update policy only covers the OPPO smartphones launched from 2019.

OPPO Software Update Policy

  • OPPO Find X Series

    • 3 Android Updates
    • 4 Years of Security Updates
  • OPPO Reno Series

    • 2 Android Updates
    • 4 Years of Security Updates
  • OPPO F Series

    • 2 Android Updates
    • 4 Years of Security Updates
  • OPPO A Series

    • 1 Android Update (Select Models)
    • 3 Years of Security Updates

OPPO has already kicked off ColorOS 12 Public Beta program in China for the first batch of eligible phones. Ahead of the ColorOS 12 global launch event, the company has also rolled out the international version of the software to a select few interested users of OPPO Find X3 Pro in Malaysia and Indonesia.

We expect the firm to reveal the list of eligible handsets and update timeline at the conference next week. For now, OPPO has confirmed that Android 12-based ColorOS 12 will be available for 110+ devices and 150 million users across the world. This will be the fastest and widest rollout of the ColorOS update rollout since the introduction of the Android skin.

 

 

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Microsoft Windows 11 officially launched, available for free download

Microsoft has officially released its highly anticipated Windows 11. The latest version of the popular PC operating system has just launched earlier today (5th October 2021) and is available for free download on systems that are compatible with the update.

Microsoft

For those interested, you can check for the update on the Windows Update settings. Furthermore, new Windows 11 powered PCs and laptops will be launching later today as well. Panos Panay, Microsoft chief product officer for Windows and Devices stated that “We’re pumped to be launching Windows 11; the entire user experience brings you closer to what you love, empowers you to produce and inspires you to create. Windows 11 provides a sense of calm and openness. It gives you a place that feels like home. It’s secure and everything is designed to be centered around you.”

According to the American tech giant, only existing PCs will be eligible for a free Windows upgrade. Although, the new update supports only new hardware for its system requirements. So, this would rule out a number of PCs that run Windows 10 but sport outdated processor. However, Panay believes that all Windows 10 devices with a compatible CPU will “be offered the upgrade to Windows 11 by mid 2022.”

Microsoft

The new update is free for genuine Windows 10 users, so Windows 7 or previous versions may need to buy Windows 11. Keep in mind that the latest laptops released from known PC brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, and others will run Windows 11 pre loaded. To check for your system’s Windows 11 compatibility, one can download the PC Health Check app from the Microsoft website.

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Realme GT Neo2 landing page goes live in India; launching later this month

Realme GT Neo2 smartphone was officially launched in China last month and Madhav Sheth, CEO of Realme India had confirmed that the phone will get launched in the Indian market in the month of October.

Now, ahead of the official launch of the Realme GT Neo2 smartphone in India, its landing page has gone live. This indicates the imminent launch of the device, but the company is yet to reveal the launch date.

Realme GT Neo2

The landing page teases the upcoming smartphone with #EverythingNeo and reveals that the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, touted to be the “best 5G processor in the segment.” It comes with a Samsung E4 panel display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 600Hz continuous touch sampling rate, the highest in India.

Since the device has already been launched in India, we know what it packs. However, there could be some minor changes but most of the specs are expected to remain the same as the one launched in China last month.

The Realme GT Neo2 features a 6.62-inch Full HD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a peak brightness of 1300 nits. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Realme GT Neo2

It supports dynamic memory expansion, allowing virtual expansion of the RAM by up to 7GB. The phone also comes with a diamond ice core cooling system that covers 17932mm² in terms of surface area with aerospace-grade cooling gel. It also uses tempered VC and three-dimensional graphene layers for better heat dissipation.

Coming to the camera department, there’s a triple-camera setup on the back, featuring a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. On the front, there’s a 16-megapixel selfie shooter for video calling.

The device has dual stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos Games support as well. It runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with Realme UI 2.0 on top and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging technology.

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